Assigetob to



FeB. 5, 1929.

B. SCHNITZER AIRSHIP Filed July 17, 1925 R O m w w NM 1. n n c s n 1 m a m e B ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

time sates rare rarest easier...

. BENJAMIN SCHNITZER, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO GOODYEAR-ZEHPELIN COR- PORATION, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAW'ARE.

AIRSHIP.

Application filed July 17, 1925. Serial massa e.

My invention'relates to airships and it has particular relation to a form and arrangement of gas containers adapted to be utilized in dirigible airships for thepurpose of fa- 'pletely surrounding the combustible gas with noninflammable gas. a

In the development of navigable airships in which gas is employed as a llftmgmedium,

many inventions have been conceived with gases.

' a view to reducing the hazards incident to utilization of combustible or inflammable Airships have heretofore been constructed in which containers for a relatively light explosive or combustible gas, such as hydrogen, have been disposed centrally within con'ipartments having gas cellstherein inflated with a relatively heavier non-inflammable gas, such as helium or nitrogen. This was done in order-to isolate the combustible gas and prevent dangerous mixtures which are liable to occ urwhen air 'andhydrogen are exposed to each others It'has been a di-fiicult matter to properly secure combusti- I ble gas containers for therelatively light inflammable gas within the non-inflammable gas cells without subjecting the latter to liability of'being damaged during changesin conformation of the cells'incident to the variation in gas in temperature. 7

By my invention I propose to obviate the above enumerated disadvantages by employ-j ing supplemental gas bags inflated with relatively heavy fuel gas-or gas not lighter than the lifting gas. These'gas bags are suspended wholly within one or more of the main lifting gasic'ells. I prefer to utilize h eliumjas the 1 main lifting gas. Thenuse of a relatively heavy fuelgas renders it possible toemploy fsiin'ple and efficient suspension for the cont ainers ofsuch gas. Penetration of the main pressure caused by changes containers or cellsbythe suspension lines or cords is avoided by the use of relatively heavy gas. This arrangement permits the inner or fuel gas bags to move freely within the liftinggas container about its suspension point without exerting any objectionable strain on any of the gas containers.

In order to prevent loss of helium, which is relatively scarce and expensive, the main gas cells are inflated with this gas only to approximately 80 to 85 per cent of their capacity. Such limited inflation permits the helium to expand or contract under conditions of various changes in temperature and pressure incident to the ascent and de- Scent of the airship. The remaining 15 to 20 per cent of the'capacity of the main helium cellsis occupied by'the relatively small fuel gas fed gas bags orv containers. The fuel to the motor is consumed in the same proportion with respect to weight as the consumed gasoline.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specificatiomof which: I

Fig. 1 is alongitudinal sectional view of an airship illustrating, diagrammatically, the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is across-sectional view illustrating,

diagrammatically, an airship embodying my invention, the view beingftalren substantially along the line TT-IT of Fig. l; and i Fig. 3 is aview on a largerscale showing in detail one ofthe suspension elements employedin my invention. v

' in practicing my invention 1 providea plurality of adjacent-1y disposed gas cells or containers 10, Whichare adapted to be infiated with a non-inflammable lifting gas, such as helium, and which are disposed within a hull or envelope 11 of an airship. The cells or main containers 10 are suspended from the'hull or envelope 11 at their upper most points, as indicated at 12. The lower portion of each gas cell 10 isuna-ttached, as

illustrated at 13, in order that the cell may 1 partially collapse when the gas therein contracts.

fuel gas container 14 is disposed wholly within each gas cell 10 and, is suspended from the top thereof by means of aseries of cablesor cords 115 secured along a row of connectingelements :16. It is to be. underbag 14 is heavier or not lighter than the nelium surrounding it, stabilizing lines or cords, other than those shown at 15 are not necessary. Each of the connecting elements 16, as best illustrated in ig. 3, consists of reinforcing patches 17 and 18 secured firmly about a ring 19, one-half of Which extends above and the other half of which extends below the Wall 'of the gas cell 10. The lower portion of thering 19,011 the inner side of the gas cell, serves as an anchorfor the suspen sion cords 15, while the upper half of the ring serves an anchor for lashing the ring 19 to the hull or envelope of the airship at the points 12, by means of cords 20, or other suitable connecting means.

Suitable conduits 22 are connected to the fuel bags 14 and serve the purpose of feeding the to the motors (not shown). The container 14 maybe filled with gas by means oftheconduits'22, or if desired, an additional filling conduit may be provided. As an additional safe guard against accidental explosion ofthe fuel gas, 'a relatively large conduiti23 incloses each of the hose conduits 22 and is'adapted't'o contain non-combustible gas or liquid, which completely isolates each With'a certain degree of slackness therein to permit freedom of movement "of'the gas bag 14 with'i'n the'ce'll 10. As the max mum roll or listof the ship never exceeds 10, the

sible to nav' length the hose 22 need exceed thenormal distance between the cell 14 and the Wall 11" by but've'ry little. It Will be apparent that, by theuse'of'a fuel gas heavierthan the-noninflammable gas, I have secured several advantagesove'r the previously known and used combination of gases. Oneadvantage is that the container may be suspended by any ordinary means from the top of the envelope framework Without the use of the additional stays necessary WVhBII a gas lighter than 'the Another advantage is thatthe heavier gas is forced downwardly through the conduits 22 to the motors the lighter no l-inflammable gas Without the use of any pumping operation.

From theforegoing description, it will be apparent that the lifting gas containers and fuel gas containers constructed accordingto the principles of my invention render it posmaximuni safety and, at the same timegit is possible to 1con serve practically all "oi the relatively expensive lifting gas by utilizing fuel gas instead of gasoline to motor of the airship.

Although I have illustrated but one form Which my invention may assume and have described in detail but a single application thereof, it Will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but that various minor modifications and changes may be made therein Without departing from the spirit of my invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with an airship C011} prising a hull portion having an inflatable gas cell therein and a gas bag disposed Within the hull portion cooperating with the gas cell to occupy the space Within the hull portion,

of a lifting gas for inflating the gas cell, and a combustible gas heavier than the liftinggas for inflating the gas bag. 7

2. An'airship comprising a hull, a lifting gas cell provided with means projecting from the inner and outer surfaces thereof, suspension members for connecting said means'to the hull and means positioned upon the upper inner portion of the cell connected to the first named means fonsuspending a gas bag Wholly Within the cell.

3. An airship comprising a hull, a lifting gas cell provided with a row of elements for operate the connecting the cell to the hull adjacent the top thereof, and means positioned at inter vals longitudinally of thehull upon the upper inner portion of the cell cooperating witht'he elements for suspending gas bag Wholly within the cell.

4. A gas bag comprising a cell adapted to be inflated 'With non-inflammable lifting gas, ,7

a gas bagpiovided with suspension means disposed Wholly within the cell, a motor sup ply eonduit'leadmgfrom the gas through the Wall 'Of'the cell and means for isolating the supply conduit With said noninflainmabl'e beyond the Wallof the cell.

5. An airshipcomprising a plura .cells adapted to b'einfla'ted With non-inflanr mable. gas, agas bag provided -with suspens on means disposed wholly Within each cell, a motor 'suppl conduit leading from the bag'th'rought e Wall of the cell and a seconc conduit inflated ith non-inflammable gasinclosing the supplyconduit beyond the Wall of each cell. a

6. An airship comprising an outer pie tective framework, a'gas cell disposed within said frame-Work and suspended therefrom at the uppermost portiononly, and a gas bag disposed wholly within. said first named cell and spaced from -the Walls thereof, said-gas bag being: suspended from saidframework p at the uppermostportion only. te dirig'ible airships with.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed:

my name.

BENJAMIN. soHN rzna. 

